Table 7.
Comparison of ranks within subgroup analyses (geographical location)
| Rank | Research questions | LMIC, total n = 109 | Bangladesh participants (n = 54) | International participants (n = 55) | International HIC (n = 32) | International LMIC (n = 23) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
What are the barriers and challenges of implementing facility-based KMC in LMICs? |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| 2 |
How does the presence of skilled birth and neonatal care attendants influence survival outcomes for babies? |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
12* |
| 3 |
How can referral network and systems be strengthened for timely referral of women experiencing obstetric emergencies (including preterm labour) from rural/primary care to higher care level facilities in LMICs? |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
| 4 |
How to promote early initiation and exclusive breast feeding of preterm, LBW and SGA infants in LMICs? |
4 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
24* |
| 5 |
How can transport and referral systems for preterm, LBW, SGA newborns be improved or maximised in LMICs? |
5 |
11 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
| 6 |
Assess the effectiveness of community-based KMC in reducing neonatal mortality of clinically stable preterm and LBW infants? |
6 |
7 |
6 |
13 |
3 |
| 7 |
What is the prevalence and cause of neonatal sepsis in preterm, LBW and SGA infants in LMICs? |
7 |
3 |
17* |
29* |
6 |
| 8 |
How can acceptability and compliance of KMC be increased in LMICs? |
8 |
5 |
11 |
10 |
17 |
| 9 |
What are barriers and challenges to improving existing skin-to-skin practice in LMICs? |
9 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
| 10 |
What are the clinical outcomes of preterm newborns discharged to continue KMC at home? |
10 |
8 |
14 |
12 |
20* |
| 11 |
Evaluate interventions to screen women at risk of PTB during ANC (e.g. anaemia, preeclampsia, NCDs, malnutrition) and improve maternal and newborn outcomes in LMICs. |
11 |
14 |
18 |
17 |
19 |
| 12 |
Develop effective strategies to improve post discharge follow-up of preterm, LBW, and SGA infants in LMICs. |
12 |
26* |
10 |
7 |
18 |
| 13 |
What are barriers of doing ROP screening for all eligible preterm babies in LMICs? |
13 |
15 |
23* |
15 |
36* |
| 14 |
Assess the impact of quality improvement initiatives in improving KMC counselling. |
14 |
9 |
29* |
43* |
27* |
| 15 |
How can we provide safe and effective phototherapy for premature neonates in LMICs? |
15 |
24 |
21 |
24 |
9 |
| 16 |
What intervention packages can be developed to manage premature and small infants with neonatal jaundice in LMICs? |
16 |
27* |
13 |
22 |
16 |
| 17 |
Evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of QI activities in improving care of preterm babies at health facilities in LMICs. |
17 |
22 |
20 |
28* |
15 |
| 18 |
What is the effect of nutritional status (e.g. underweight, overweight and obesity, micronutrient deficiency etc.) on LBW, SGA, and PTB in LMICs? |
18 |
13 |
25 |
14 |
37* |
| 19 |
Explore barriers and facilitators to antenatal steroid use in public health facilities in LMICs. |
19 |
36* |
8* |
8* |
14 |
| 20 | Evaluate the use of digital technologies (e.g. mobile phone etc.) to improve follow-up of preterm babies after discharge from health facilities. | 20 | 29 | 15 | 36* | 4* |
LMICs – low and middle-income countries, KMC - Kangaroo Mother Care, RPS – research priority scores, LBW – low birth weight, SGA – small for gestational age, PTB – preterm birth, ROP – retinopathy of prematurity, QI – quality improvement, HIC – high-income country, ANC – antenatal care
*Cells with ranks over a 10-point deviation from the LMIC ranks.